Cosmetic container



Dec. 3, 1.957

V1 L. LERNER E-r AL COSMETIC CONTAINER Filed July 19.. 1955 INVENTORJ` Louis L. Lerner BY Raymond J. Olson ATTORN United States Patent O COSMETIC CONTAINER Louis L. Lerner, Skokie, and Raymond J. Olson, Chicago, Ill., assignors to The Gillette Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application July 19, 1955, Serial No. 522,997

3 Claims. (Cl. 20G-56) This invention relates to a cosmetic container and a method for assembling the same and pertains more specically to such a container in which a cup for cosmetics or the like is advanced or retracted upon relative rotation of two parts of the container.

One object of the invention is to provide such a cosmetic container of simplified construction having a mini mum number of parts which may readily be assembled.

Another object is to provide such a cosmetic container in which the parts are molded of plastic material.

Other and further objects will be apparent from the drawing and from the description which follows.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a view in vertical section of the assembled container showing the cup in retracted position;

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the cup together with the threaded member secured thereto;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the driving member;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the driving member; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale of the lower right-hand portion of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing, the container of the present invention is of simplified construction in which the parts are preferably molded of plastic material. In the preferred embodiment as shown in Fig. l, the container of the present invention may comprise only three separate parts in addition to a conventional cover or cap member 10: a sleeve member 12 open at both ends, a combined cup 14 and threaded member 16 secured to the bottom of the cup for movement therewith, and a driving member 18 which interengages with the thread of threaded member 16 and which is mounted for rotation with respect to sleeve 12. While the parts (including the cover 10 if desired) may be molded or otherwise formed from any suitable resilient plastic material, a metallic cover may be employed if desired; it is preferred to mold the combined cup and threaded member and the driving member `from a relatively hard plastic material such as polystyrene, a polyamide, a polyacrylate, or a hard vinyl resin, etc., while sleeve member 12 is preferably molded from a softer more elastic material such as polyethylene, natural or synthetic rubber or a rubber-like vinyl resin composition.

Cover or cap member 10 may be of conventional construction, such as thin-walled metal or molded plastic, of such a size as to engage sleeve member 12 telescopically. Sleeve member 12 is generally tubular in shape and is provided with an annular shoulder 20 and an annular rib 40 on its inner wall. The upper end portion of sleeve member 12 is provided with a plurality of flats extending longitudinally of the internal wall thereof in mating relationship with the corresponding facets on the external wall of cup member 14, as best seen in Fig. 2. The Inating polygonal congurations of sleeve member 12 and cup member 14 permit these two members to move axiallyl with respect to each other, but prevent relative rotation 'ice thereof. The relatively large number of mating faces (twelve are shown in the embodiment of the drawing) permits rapid and easy assembly of the parts since they may be telescoped together in any one of twelve positions of relative rotation, whereas if a single key and keyway are employed for the same purpose, the two members may be assembled together only in one position.

Cup member 14 which serves to hold the base of the stick of cosmetic material or the like is also preferably constructed of molded plastic material and may be made integral with threaded member 16, although. these two members may be molded separately and later secured together by cementing, welding, or the like if desired. Cup member 14 is provided with a plurality of internal anges 22, 22 which aid in holding the stick of cosmetic material in place. Threaded member 16 is secured to the bottom of cup member 14 for movement therewith and is provided with helical grooves or threads 24, preferably two in number apart, which are closed at both upper and lower ends, as best seen in Fig. 3.

Driving member 18 is of generally tubular construction, having an external shoulder 26 which abuts the lower end of sleeve member 12 and has a flange 28 which serves as a handle or gripping portion during operation of the container; the shoulder of flange 28 provides a seat or stop for cap 10. The end of driving member 18 which extends into sleeve member 12 is slotted axially, as best seen in Fig. 4, to provide a plurality of arms 30, 30, 31, 31 which are radially flexible; that is, which are capable of being flexed toward and away lfrom the longitudinal axis of the assembly. In the preferred embodirnent show in the drawing, the driving member carries two pairs of these flexible arms symmetrically arranged. One pair of opposing arms 30, 30 carries at its ends radially outwardly projecting detents 32, 32 arranged to engage over annular shoulder 2t] on the inner Wall of sleeve member 12 when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. l. The remaining pair of ilexible arm members 31, 31 carry radially inwardly extending projections 34, 34 which slidably interengage with grooves or threads 24 on threaded member 16.

Driving member 18 is also provided with an annular bearing groove 38 which mates with annular rib 40 adjacent the lower end of the inner face of sleeve member 12. As best shown in Fig. 6, the dimensions of the groove and rib are such that when the parts are assembled together the lower end of sleeve member 12 is distended slightly to an outer diameter greater than that of shoulder 26 of driving member 18, as shown at 14a in Fig. 6, the groove and rib together forming a bearing permitting relative rotation of the sleeve and driving member with the application of moderate rotating force when cap 10 is removed. The outer diameter of the distended portion of the sleeve member is also slightly greater than the inner diameter of cap 10 so that when the latter is forced over the sleeve member it provides a tight seal with the distended portion and simultaneously, by compressing sleeve member 12 radially against driving member 18, causes rib 40 to bind in groove 38, thus locking driving member 18 against rotation relative to sleeve member 12. This arrangement automatically prevents accidental advance of cup 14 when `cap 10 is in place as Well as eifectively sealing the container against the atmosphere. The latter feature is highly advantageous since some cosmetic compositions such as certain lipstick formulations contain volatile ingredients such as perfume. These volatile ingredients tend to be lost by evaporation unless the container is tightly sealed. In addition, some cosmetic compositions are slightly hygroscopic and tend to absorb moisture from the atmosphere, particularly under conditions of high humidity. Since periods of a month or more frequently elapse between the time when a container of the present type is filled with a cosmetic composition and the time when it is first used by the ultimate c-onsumer the problem is a real one. v

These problems are enhanced by modern shipping procedures. In addition to exposure to normal merchandising store atmospheres, additional exposures to exhaust fumes, solvent fumes, gas fumes, atmospheres peculiar to certain areas, such as paper mills, stockyards and the like, encountered in transit, aiiect the odor, color or taste of wax-based pomade compositions.

Wax and oil mixtures are noted for their ability to absorb odors and flavors from the atmosphere. Such contamination may be eliminated by an air-tight seal. Thus the air-tight seal of this invention is bi-functional in that it maintains the atmosphere within and surrounding the pomade in the balance as it existed at the time of manufacture and prevents contamination and/ or adulteration of the color, odor and taste from outside sources.

In assembling the device, driving member 13 is iirst inserted into the proper end of sleeve member 12, as shown in Fig. l, detents 32 flexing inwardly during the assembly operation. The parts are so proportioned that when the external shoulder 26 of driving member 18 abuis against the end of sleeve member 12, detents 32, 32 are in position to spring outwardly and engage over annular shoulder 20 on the inner wall of sleeve member 12, as shown in Fig, l, thus securely holding the parts in axially ixed position. At the same time, rib 40 is forced into engagement with groove 38, distending the lower portion of sleeve member 12. The combined cup 14 and threaded member 16 is then inserted through the opposite end of sleeve member 12. Suicient clearance is provided in zone 36 between the driving member and the sleeve member to permit arms 31, 31 to flex outwardly during this step, permitting projections 34, 34 to ride over threaded member 16 until they engage in threads 24.

In operation of the container with cap removed, relative rotation of driving member 18 and sleeve member 12 which are held against axial movement with respect to each other causes projections 34, 34 riding in threads 24 to advance and retract threaded member 16 along with cup 14, the latter two members being held against rotation with respect to sleeve member 12 by the mating configuration of cup 14 and sleeve member 12. Since thread 24 is closed at both ends, the extent of advance or retraction of cup 14 is limited, projections 34, 34 acting as limit stops in this respect. When cup 14 is retracted and cap 10 placed in position, the inner wall of the latter seals against the distended lower portion of sleeve member 12, the end of the cap seating on shoulder 26, and simultaneously locks driving member 1S against rotation with respect to sleeve member 12. The stick of cosmetic material or the like may be inserted in cup 14 in any conventional manner.

The simplified construction of the present invention lends itself readily to large-scale production of the container by molding the several parts from plastic material and requires a minimum of manual labor in assembly.

Furthermore, when once assembled, the device cannot be disassembled accidentally or otherwise without destruction of the container.

Although a specic embodiment of the invention has been herein described, it is not intended to limit the invention solely thereto, but to include all of the obvious variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A cosmetic container comprising a sleeve member of resilient plastic material having an annular internal shoulder, a removable cap adapted to engage said sleeve member telescopically, a cup adapted to contain cosmetic material mounted within said sleeve for movement axially thereof and having a threaded member secured to the bottom thereof extending axially of said sleeve member, the thread of said threaded member being closed at both ends, said cup and threaded member being lixed against rotation with respect to said sleeve member, and a tubular driving member mounted in axially xed position in said sleeve member for rotation with respect thereto, said sleeve member being distended beyond its normal diameter in a localized zone by engagement with said driving member, the outer diameter of said distended zone being slightly greater than the inner diameter of said cap whereby the latter when in position seals against said distended Zone and simultaneously compresses the sleeve member radially to lock the driving member against rotation, said tubular driving member being axially slotted at its end within the sleeve member to provide a plurality of radially flexible arms, at least one of said arms carrying a radially inwardly extending projection inter-engaging with the thread on said threaded member and another of said arms carrying a radially outwardly extending detent in a position to engage over the shoulder on the inner wall of said sleeve member to hold the driving member against axial movement with respect to the sleeve member.

2. A cosmetic container made of resilient plastic material comprising a sleeve member having an annular internal shoulder, a cup adapted to contain cosmetic material mounted within said sleeve for movement axially thereof and having a threaded member secured to the bottom thereof extending axially of said sleeve member, said cup and threaded member being iixed against rotation with respect to said sleeve member, and a tubular driving member mounted in axially iixed position in said sleeve member for rotation with respect thereto, said driving member comprising a tube axially slotted at its end within the sleeve member to provide a plurality of radially flexible arms, at least one of said arms carrying a radially inwardly extending projection inter-engaging with the thread on said threaded member and another of said arms carrying a radially outwardly extending detent in a position to engage over the shoulder on the inner wall of said sleeve member.

3. A cosmetic container as dened in claim 2 in which the thread of said threaded member is closed at both ends to limit the axial movement of said cup.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

